Master of Science in Economics
Summary
This programme will provide you with a high-level toolkit for understanding and analysing complex economic problems. You will be prepared for a career as a professional economist in industry or public sector or, as a PhD student. During the programme you will have the opportunity to apply your skills in a real-world setting during an internship.
You will be prepared to analyze the big issues in society, such as climate change and world poverty – and the small ones, such as competition restrictions or individual behaviour.
About
Get an education that prepares you for the future
We offer a well-balanced programme with courses that give you both theoretical knowledge and practical tools to analyze quantitative data that equip you well for the future – whether you will work in policy, academia, or in private industries.
The main track gives you a solid ground in both economic theory and quantative methods such as econometrics and data analysis. The programme also offers much flexibility if you instead want to tailor your education to your special interests. Apart from our elective courses in economics, you may take courses in finance or choose from the large variety of courses offered by Graduate School. Specific opportunities are that you have the option to do an internship within the programme and to obtain a Double Degree.
Actively engaged teachers
Many of our teachers are internationally renowned researchers. This ensures that our programme corresponds to state-of-the-art research. Additionally, many of our teachers also have engagement outside of the university: they e.g., advise multinational pharmaceutical companies on pricing, serve as competition law judges or work with the World Bank. Such experiences guarantee that their teaching is also practically relevant.
International Environment
Economics is an international field, and with that comes an international job market once you have your degree. In our programme, you will meetstudents and teachers from all over the world and may gain even more
international experience by choosing to go abroad for an exchange
semester at any of our many partner universities. A special opportunity
is our Double Degree agreements. If you do a Double Degree, you will study one year in Gothenburg and one year abroad, receiving a full degree from each university. More programme specific information about possibilities to study abroad can be found under Exchange opportunities.
Programme structure and content
The first semester builds on the knowledge you acquired during your undergrad studies and focuses on the building blocks that are essential to all economic analysis: Mathematics, Econometrics, and Micro- and Maceoeconomics, courses similar to those taught in most MSc programmes in Economics. These core courses deepen your theoretical and methodological knowledge that will be a basis for the rest of your education and for your future career.
The second and third semesters contain mostly elective courses that provide the opportunity to both specialize and broaden your knowledge. Regardless of the future, there are courses that suit you – both more research oriented and more applied and industry relevant courses. You may also choose to do an internship with a firm or an organization.
The fourth semester is dedicated to your master´s thesis, where you apply your acquired knowledge and skills to analyze relevant economic questions and have the opportunity to let the thesis reflect the specialization you built throughout previous semesters.
More information about programme structure and content
Who should apply?
- Are you curious, analytical, and hardworking and want to be challenged to further develop your skillset in economics?
- Are you concerned with sustainability and interested in how economics can help us face future sustainability challenges?
- Do you want to find real solutions to important problems rather than relying on quick fixes?
Then our master’s programme in Economics will suit you perfectly!
How to apply?
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to apply for MSc Economics.
Prerequisites and selection
Entry requirements
General Entrance Requirements:
A Bachelor's degree (equivalent to 180 ECTS credits) from an internationally recognized university and English 6/English B from Swedish upper secondary school or the equivalent level of an internationally recognized test. For more information about general entrance requirements see universityadmission.se (English) and antagning.se (Swedish).
Programme specific entrance requirements:
A) 60 credits in economics including 15 credits in microeconomics (of which at least 7,5 credits on intermediate level) and 7,5 credits in econometrics or equivalent, and a minimum of 15 credits in statistics or 7,5 credits in statistics and 7,5 credits in quantitative methods and/or mathematics. The credits in econometrics or equivalent may be included in the general statistics requirement or in addition to this.
or
B) a Bachelor's Degree in mathematics or in an engineering programme with a quantitative or mathematical orientation.
Special instructions for application
Find out more on how to apply to the master's programme.
Instructions for application
Selection
Applicants who meet the entrance requirements (general and programme specific) are divided into 3 groups. First, all places are allocated to applicants in group 1. If any places are left, they are distributed to applicants in group 2, and thereafter to applicants in group 3.
Group 1 is applicants with a GMAT score. Applicants are ranked by their GMAT score result. For further information: minimum GMAT score, last date to write GMAT etc.
Group 2 is applicants ranked by their personal motivation application. For further information: instructions, last day to submit documents etc.
Group 3 is applicants ranked by number of university credits (ECTS). Applicants are ranked by number of credits reported on the last day for application (max. 165 ECTS).
If several applicants have the same merit rating the selection of students is made by ballot.
Applicants with test results/motivation application that do not meet the minimum are placed in selection group 3.
After graduation
Graduates of the programme receive a degree of Master of Science in Economics.
After graduation, the vast majority of our students get qualified employments. Reflecting the scope of the programme, our graduates find positions within a broad range of private industries and public and international organizations, such as:
• Economists or project leaders at Volvo, PwC, Riksbanken, Ministry of Finance, and the World Bank
• Environmental economists at COWI AB and Havs- och Vattenmyndigheten
• Programme officer at UN Environment
• Health economists at TLV, Folkhälsomyndigheten, Region Västra Götaland, and industry
• Financial advisors at Danske Bank and Nordea
• Analysts at Skolinspektionen, Statistic Sweden, and EQT Group
The Master's program in Economics is also excellent preparation for an academic career. Several students have gone on to study at doctoral level and now have successful academic careers.
More information about after graduation
Facilities
The School of Business, Economics and Law is located in the city center of Gothenburg, close to the historical quarters in Haga. The main building at Vasagatan houses the Economics Library, which is several floors high and offers many study places. The building is usually nicknamed "Handels".
More information about facilities
Exchange opportunities
Many of our students choose to go on exchange. By studying abroad,
you will be given the opportunity to experience a new academic
environment, new culture and gain new experiences and perspectives. The School of Business, Economics and Law and the University of Gothenburg collaborate with a large number of partner universities all over the world.
Students from the master's programme in Economics have the
opportunity to take part in a Double Degree programme at the University of Rome Tor Vegata, Italy, or Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan. A Double Degree Programme means that one year of your master's programme will be spent at the partner university and you will be awarded degrees from both universities.
More information about exchange opportunities
Internship
We offer the opportunity to do an internship for ten weeks as part of the education. An internship can build a bridge between the academic courses and working life and is much appreciated among our students. You could do an internship with a firm, public authority or other organization or, you may be a research assistant at the economics department, where you will be practically involved in some research project. In either case, you will make use of your knowledge gained during the courses and apply it more hands-on and perhaps get an idea for your master thesis and even get a job after your studies.
